Is There Still Duel Citizenship?

00.12.02 | mlmr

[mlmr]

I just talked to a girlhood friend who is living in England. Circumstances have changed in her life, impending divorce!! and I asked her whether she would have to move back to the States. She said she is a citizen of England, and then explained that she now holds duel citizenship. She said it was a secret that the US state department doesn't want known...that US citizens can hold two citizenships at once...in this case British and American. Recently I was told by someone else that there are not more Canadian duel citizenships. Can anyone tell us more about duel citizenship in our government?

Thank you.

[CharacterCounts]

Duelling is illegal in America, thus, no duel citizenship.

True, unless you use banjos for weapons.

[DallasMike]

I challenge you to a dual!

[wimpycat]

[mlmr]

Duel = Dual

Blush, embarressed, hanging my head, shy and red-faced, rubbing my toe in the sand, heartbroken, wishing to be forgiven, and just plain penitent and wishing it was all over.

Please forgive me.

So now answer my question (Big grin!!) My friend is a major lefty, would that be why she implied that the US government was not forthcoming about dual citizenship? It is a wellknown option for US citizens. Am I talking Bitter Lefty here?

Also the reason I pose this question to Freepers is

1 Freepers are intellegent, handsome and beautiful and knowledgeble (and fun to post with!!)

2 I like talking to other Freepers, especially you!

[Stefan Stackhouse]

My understanding is that immigration law can be exceedingly complex. I would strongly advise obtaining competent legal counsel.

[mlmr]

I challenge you to a dual!

You would win. I haven't been on a range in twenty years. But I was pretty good twenty years ago.

[Dog Gone]

Yes, you are talking about a bitter lefty. There's no secret regarding dual citizenship. There are many different ways that it can be obtained.

I'm assuming your friend got it by marrying a British citizen, although it's hard to tell by the facts you presented. But, regardless, it's not a secret.

[wimpycat]

If I were you I would look it up, possibly on the INS website for a start.

[Gritty]

My understanding is that immigration law can be exceedingly complex. I would strongly advise obtaining competent legal counsel.

You can say that again!

Don't depend on the advice you get from the INS. They are incompetent. It can get you into big trouble, just like taking advice from the IRS.

[mlmr]

She has been married to a British citizen. That is all she had to do to get it? She just got so high-handed and huffy about how it was a "big secret" that the US government was hiding...

She has bitter lefty leanings...

[sourcery]

The Sovereign Society has the answers to your questions.

[wimpycat]

OK, I've GOT IT!! This is from the State Department website:

Dual Nationality
The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy.Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to U.S. citizen parents may be both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of birth.
A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct.The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.

However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there.Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship.Most countries permit a person to renounce or otherwise lose citizenship.

Information on losing foreign citizenship can be obtained from the foreign country's embassy and consulates in the United States. Americans can renounce U.S. citizenship in the proper form at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

http://travel.state.gov/dualnationality.html

I don't know why I'm doing your work for you. Google is your friend.

[Illbay]

Hm. Things seemed to be calming down, now all of a sudden it's "Vanity" city again. I don't think it's a full moon...

[mlmr]

If I ever have some wealth to hide I will certainly look them up...

[ContentiousObjector]

My youngest daughter has Canadian and American citizenship, she was born when me and my wife were living in Canada

It isn't really a secret, lots of American Jews have Israeli and American citizenship

[austinTparty]

Dual citizenship is possible for Israelis, for one. Then there is something which basically functions like dual citizenship, but isn't: having 2 citizenships. This may get complicated, but bear with me.

You may hold two (or more) citizenships without being a dual citizen. Let me give you an example. Let's say you are born in France (I don't use Germany as an example, because until recently, being born there did not allow you to claim citizenship---the whole Blut und Boden thing), but your parents are Americans. You are a French citizen by matter of birth; in other words, you have a French birth certificate, ergo French citizen. But your parents are planning to move back to the States after they finish their tour with Arthur Andersen, so they register your birth with the American Embassy. You an American citizen by right of your parents' nationality. Therefore, you hold TWO citizenships. But each country considers you to be ONLY a citizen of THEIR country, i.e. to the French, you are French, to the Americans, you are an American, therefore, you are not a DUAL citizen. You can maintain these two citizenships your whole life, because you never are in a position of having to CHOOSE one or the other, because each country considers you to only be a citizen (through birth) of that particular country. Confused yet? Dual citizenship is when you have two countries that both recognize you as a citizen of both countries. You cannot become an American citizen through naturalization, however, and MAINTAIN a second citizenship, because your naturalization process requires you to renounce all foreign allegiances.

I got this information several years back through a Federal information line. Hope this helps more than it confuses.

[Rollee]

It is my understanding that some other countries recognize dual citizenship, but the US does not. For example, Ireland would recognize me as a US citizen and an Irish citizen if I wanted to do that. Ireland would issue me an Irish passport if I wanted. The USA would not recognize any other citizenship in its citizens. My sisters have dual citizenship (for reasons that escape me), but I don't. American citizenship is all that I need and all that I want.

[mlmr]

Thank you very much, you are a wonderful human being as well as being wimpy-cat!

[mlmr]

HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

[Dog Gone]

All you have to do is to be married to a British citizen and live in the UK for three years and not be insane, etc.